Socomplayer2's dealership visits: Update post 11, Gti and jetta

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Well today I went over to my local VW dealership with my friend who also just got his license who already has a 6 speed 07 gti:crazy:. Over the last week or two I have visited this dealership a few times and been talking to some of the salesmen about the Rabbit (most likely going to get with in the next year) and Gti. Every time I go there they always say next time I come back I should take a test drive. So today I came back.:sly:

As me and my friend pull in the guy who I always talk to is standing there and he starts the small talk about when I am going to buy a Rabbit. So before he gets to involved I ask him If I can take the test drive we've been talking about and he surprisingly (I'm 17 and just got my license) says yes! SO he goes in and gets the keys to a Black 2008 Rabbit with an tiptronic auto trans.

I was going to get a stick but I haven't driven one in 6 months and would probably break something lol.

Just as we are about to leave We find out because I am 17 that I can't drive, but the guy I talk to just pulled around the block and let me drive. My when I got in the drivers seat I adjusted the seat which had a lot of different setting (6 I believe) and drove through some local back streets where I played around with the tiptronic shifter. The Rabbit has a decent 170 Hp and 177 lb/ft of torque. Also it had a nice sounding 2.5 liter 5 cylinder engine. The interior is quite roomy for such a small car.I really enjoyed the steering and just everything about it. This was a nice quality car, especially for the price. The only thing is the dash is really bland but that doesn't really bother me. I couldn't really get any more pictures because I didn't want to look suspicious or anything. I just took the one when he went inside to get the keys.

I really had fun and I am going to go back in a week or two with my dad to show him it and try to get his blessing (and some money:)) to get one of these cars. I frequent the vw website and I want to get a white or black 2 door that is a 5 speed manual. also I would like an ipod adapter and the 18 inch 5 spoke wheels but that will probably raise the price two much. Hopefully I will drive it again some time in the near future.
 
Cool! It's always nice to read a personal review of a car rather then some editors out of an auto magazine.

Did you find the car roomy or was it cramped inside? I always thought the 3 door Rabbits were a bit uncomfortable due to their small size (granted I'm not really one to talk based on what I drive). Maybe the packaging on the Rabbit is something that isn't my style.
 
Great review.👍 Only question: What car do you have? VW dashes are really quite amazing for the price of the cars IMO.

Do you have the money to pay for the car or is it coming from your dad? Unless you worry about insurance, definitely be on the lookout for a used GTI. I'm sure you can talk the dealer of a bare-bones GTI that's been around the block down to near Rabbit prices.

Can you get the 18"s on the Rabbit? I had thought they were a GTI option. The Ipod adapter is a good call. You might want it if the car doesn't have the 6 CD changer and I think it's only like $150 or something.

Did you find the car roomy or was it cramped inside? I always thought the 3 door Rabbits were a bit uncomfortable due to their small size (granted I'm not really one to talk based on what I drive). Maybe the packaging on the Rabbit is something that isn't my style.

If the Rabbit seats are anything like the GTI, there is plenty of room. VW designs all their cars to fit up to 6'10".
 
Just as we are about to leave We find out because I am 17 that I can't drive […]
Huh? I was 17 when I took a test drive, and the Mazda dealer had no problem with it… is it a NJ thing?
 
Did you find the car roomy or was it cramped inside? I always thought the 3 door Rabbits were a bit uncomfortable due to their small size ...

I found it not too bad, even kind of roomy. I have been in the back seat of my friends Gti (same body and interior) and I did not feel to cramped at all and I am average size (5'9 1/2 and 170ish lbs). I hopefully won't be carrying more than 4 people in the car so it shouldn't be a problem.

Great review.👍 Only question: What car do you have? VW dashes are really quite amazing for the price of the cars IMO.

Do you have the money to pay for the car or is it coming from your dad? Unless you worry about insurance, definitely be on the lookout for a used GTI. I'm sure you can talk the dealer of a bare-bones GTI that's been around the block down to near Rabbit prices.

Can you get the 18"s on the Rabbit? I had thought they were a GTI option. The Ipod adapter is a good call. You might want it if the car doesn't have the 6 CD changer and I think it's only like $150 or something.


If the Rabbit seats are anything like the GTI, there is plenty of room. VW designs all their cars to fit up to 6'10".

Ok... in order

I don't have a car yet

Money wise my dad will probably match whatever I put up and hopefully when the time comes he will pay for the car and I will pay him back.

I don't think I can convince my dad to let me get a Gti plus insurance will stink on it.

There is 5(?) sets of 18" wheels available for the rabbit. About the ipod adapter, its a must. I my ipod is in my ears 24/7 and it would be sweet to have my own personal radio station.
 
Ok... in order

I don't have a car yet

Money wise my dad will probably match whatever I put up and hopefully when the time comes he will pay for the car and I will pay him back.

I don't think I can convince my dad to let me get a Gti plus insurance will stink on it.

There is 5(?) sets of 18" wheels available for the rabbit. About the ipod adapter, its a must. I my ipod is in my ears 24/7 and it would be sweet to have my own personal radio station.

That was a terribly worded question. I should have asked what cars you were comparing it to.

That sounds like a good system. Just be ready to fork out 8 to 9 grand for a Rabbit.

That's what I thought. The thing is a little rocket and I would imagine insurance companies know that.

I didn't know there were 18s available for that car. Just keep in mind that double-spoke wheels can be a pain to clean.:sly:
 
Good review!

I started test driving cars at a young age as well, so don't worry! If you get to know the guys at the dealer, they may let you do it more often than not...

As for the Rabbit, I shockingly have yet to drive one yet. Sat in plenty of them, and I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I personally think the back seats are really comfortable, but then again, being used to the seats in my VW, they aren't much of a change at all.
 
That was a terribly worded question. I should have asked what cars you were comparing it to.

That sounds like a good system. Just be ready to fork out 8 to 9 grand for a Rabbit.

.......

I didn't know there were 18s available for that car. Just keep in mind that double-spoke wheels can be a pain to clean.:sly:

In order again lol...

I also looked at the toyota matrix and fox body 5.0 mustangs.

Yes it is a rocket, my friend hit 90 before I even knew what was happening. His is real nice, he has a blow off valve and hes getting a new air intake sometime soon. But for insurance, it would probably be too much even with being on my parents policy.
 
Good review!

I started test driving cars at a young age as well, so don't worry! If you get to know the guys at the dealer, they may let you do it more often than not...

As for the Rabbit, I shockingly have yet to drive one yet. Sat in plenty of them, and I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I personally think the back seats are really comfortable, but then again, being used to the seats in my VW, they aren't much of a change at all.

Thanks, I hope to test drive many more cars in the near future. Also I really do think these cars are comfortable.

Sorry for double posting.
 
In order again lol...

...

Yes it is a rocket, my friend hit 90 before I even knew what was happening. His is real nice, he has a blow off valve and hes getting a new air intake sometime soon. But for insurance, it would probably be too much even with being on my parents policy.

*lumps together*

Thanks, I hope to test drive many more cars in the near future. Also I really do think these cars are comfortable.

Sorry for double posting.

I got 100 before I knew what was happening. I was driving. I was thinking of putting an intake on mine after the warranty expires. Very expensive on insurance. I don't know how much I am on the car but we have four drivers running on the plan at $1800 a year. That includes a 17 year old girl and a 19 year old me who is away. Your results may vary slightly.

The GTI is amazing. As I've said before, we had four people over six foot in the car plus a shorter buff dude in the back seat. I didn't hear any complaining.

And you can quote different posts by clicking the green check next to one (or more) then clicking "quote" on the last post you want to quote. You might play around with it a little.
 
Update:

Today I went with my dad back to the vw dealership. I test drove a 2008 Gti and 2008 jetta. Both were really nice but I couldn't drive ones with manual gearboxes because of my lack of skill with them. But when I get a car it will be a manual.

I'll save you all the small talk and skip to the cars.

First off I test drove the Gti:dopey::crazy:. It was a black on black 2 door with the double clutch tiptronic gear box. The black leather was very nice and comfy and like the rabbit the interior was quite roomy for a 2 door. The first thing I noticed was the great feel of the sport suspension. It was really smooth and absorbed the bumps while still being really sporty and stiff. I went threw some crap roads and it went over them like a champ. Next thing I thought was nifty was the paddle shifters and tiptronic shifter. I never used a paddle shifter before and the one on the gti was really nice though I would prefer a manual gearbox. Also the salesman suggested I stetch the 2.0 4cyl turbo's legs on a side road, I did:). I got two 60 quite quickly before traffic slowed me down. Over all this cars is really sweet. A great step up from the rabbit. The only two down falls are insurnace and the price. Insurance of a new driver with a turbo hatch is like a having a large boot in the ass every month. Also with a base price of 22,000 its a bit out of the reasonable price range.:grumpy:






Next the Jetta. This was a real nice sedan especially for the base price of about 17,000. This car was black on beige and it had the 2.5 5cyl engine from the rabbit. The best way I can describe the jetta is a sedan version of the rabbit. It wasn't nearly as smooth of a ride as the gti but still nice. The strong point I noticed was the nice interior. The nice leather seats and a rather roomy space made for a nice ride. The four door layout was much more convenient than the 2 door hatch.👍 With this car I didn't really mess with the tiptronic or really gun it so I can't really say much. I'm sure it was quite similar to the rabbit. Once again a really nice car. It also is better priced and better on insurance than the gti. It may be more expensive than the rabbit but in the long run it will save money with insurance being a "family sedan".:)





Sorry for the sidewaysness of the pictures I guess I held my phone wrong.


Next time I go to the dealership I want to try the gli and the R32 :).
 
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